Mini - beyond pathetic

Yeah, yeah, I know this has been beaten to death, but really - the lack of a new mini is just beyond pathetic! I needed a new mini for a year now, but I refuse to pay for the obsolete piece of junk Apple is flogging shamelessly.

I mean, what is the point of the "Buyer's Guide" here on MR, when they have the same "updates soon" for years on end? So what does "soon" mean when it's the same "soon" for years? This is BS.

Yeah, I'm frustrated. I'm giving it to March, then it's time to look into the PC world. WTF are the guys at Apple thinking selling a computer that's almost 2 years old at full price? Given how fast technology moves, 2 years is an eternity. Just imagine no iPod updates for 2 years. People would freak - and that's with almost no competition to the iPod. Here the computer industry is ultra competitive, and Apple is resting on its laurels for 2 frakking years!!! F*** this sh|t, enough is enough. Seriously, why not just close the computer division, and announce "we are the iPod + iPhone joint". In general, I'm not impressed with the speed of Apple updates to all their computers. The iMac could use a refresh for quite a while, not to mention the MP. I thought going Intel meant Apple was going to step up the speed of updates, instead they are slower than the glacial pace of the PPC days. I'm sick of it. /Rant over.

The OP needs to chill out, there are plenty of things to get hot under the collar about and waiting for a product refresh which is probably one of the least selling items in Apple's lineup is laughable.

In terms of the current mini being an 'obsolete piece of junk' I have to disagree. My C2D 1.83 machine has been my main computer for 18 months, using it for everything including professional music, video and 3d packages and virtual machines and games.

Granted, it's not at the cutting edge, but its more than capable for most users, even today. Remember, the original purpose of this machine was to be an introduction to the Mac world for PC users or new to computer in general and it continues to do this job admirably.

Remember, the original purpose of this machine was to be an introduction to the Mac world for PC users or new to computer in general and it continues to do this job admirably.

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The problem is by not being updated it looks bad against its windows opposition. I think the average PC user and potential switcher would be put off, thinking they are getting less value for money because the specs are low.

The problem is by not being updated it looks bad against its windows opposition. I think the average PC user and potential switcher would be put off, thinking they are getting less value for money because the specs are low.

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Granted, based on specs alone. But you can get more out of the same spec Mac than a PC. There is no way I could perform the same tasks I do on a similarly spec'd PC, thanks mostly to Windows being a resource hog.

Granted, based on specs alone. But you can get more out of the same spec Mac than a PC. There is no way I could perform the same tasks I do on a similarly spec'd PC, thanks mostly to Windows being a resource hog.

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Yeah that's why you pay for OSX with your Mac not windows.
They should either upgrade mac mini or knock-off 300$ off the price, I can get a better PC for half the price nowadays...

And I am talking especially about the Mac mini which is seriously out-dated. iMac's and Mp too but not on that level (e.g a 3.06ghz 8800 iMac still has a lot of life in it)

The OP needs to chill out, there are plenty of things to get hot under the collar about and waiting for a product refresh which is probably one of the least selling items in Apple's lineup is laughable.

In terms of the current mini being an 'obsolete piece of junk' I have to disagree. My C2D 1.83 machine has been my main computer for 18 months, using it for everything including professional music, video and 3d packages and virtual machines and games.

Granted, it's not at the cutting edge, but its more than capable for most users, even today. Remember, the original purpose of this machine was to be an introduction to the Mac world for PC users or new to computer in general and it continues to do this job admirably.

Click to expand...

Gah..the mini fails at running FCP and Photoshop CS3. With the GMA 950 and 1.6 ghz C2D it is as fast as a PC laptop I paid $170 for.
(btw: the two best computers I have ever owned have been that PC and my PowerBook G4 12". Both keep chugging on.)

The OP needs to chill out, there are plenty of things to get hot under the collar about and waiting for a product refresh which is probably one of the least selling items in Apple's lineup is laughable.

In terms of the current mini being an 'obsolete piece of junk' I have to disagree. My C2D 1.83 machine has been my main computer for 18 months, using it for everything including professional music, video and 3d packages and virtual machines and games.

Granted, it's not at the cutting edge, but its more than capable for most users, even today. Remember, the original purpose of this machine was to be an introduction to the Mac world for PC users or new to computer in general and it continues to do this job admirably.

Click to expand...

I agree with this guy. I have the same mini and its just fine. Its been my main computer for 3 months and its fine. I have a professional music program on it and it handles it just fine. I guess it COULD be a little faster TBH, but it still handles things fine.

The worst part now is with plex and boxee working so well the mac mini is a perfect media server. I just can't bring myself to pay $599 for an under spec'd machine. I'm leaning towards a dell hybrid which is a neat little unit for 399 and trying to get osx on it with an IR reciever so I can use the apple remote. Sad I know. I might be better off waiting for another month and see if they update the mini. Just F**ing update already. Ok I'm done.

I would not recommend the current mini at the current price to somebody who needs a general-purpose desktop computer.

But the mini is GREAT for a lot of unconventional uses. I've got two. One drives my home theater, while the other is rack-mounted in my mobile PA system for use with my band. Other people have mounted them in cars, or as wi-fi relays, and even web servers.

A mini is small, quiet, powerful enough for most purposes, and runs relatively cool. That makes it a very useful for a lot of tasks where a big beige box would be undesirable.

But if all you need is a desktop computer, the mini is not currently a good value for the money. Don't buy one. If you must have OS X on a shoestring budget, buy a used Mac or build a hackintosh.

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